CD: The Vaselines - V For Vaselines | reviews, news & interviews
CD: The Vaselines - V For Vaselines
CD: The Vaselines - V For Vaselines
C86 veterans hit the accelerator and turn up the volume
The Vaselines were originally one of a slew of bands that came out of the mid- to late-80s’ Shambling/C86 scene. Characterised by low production values and low commercial expectations, their Dum-Dum album and a couple of EPs made little impression on Planet Pop and the band split. Then along came Kurt Cobain – who declared the band’s mainstays, Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, his “favourite songwriters in the whole world” and recorded three of their songs with Nirvana.
The Vaselines’ third album, V for Vaselines, sees Kelly and McKee in leather biker chic on the cover and an injection of new flavours to their sound that often finds them at the musical mid-point between the poppy end of the Ramones’ and My Bloody Valentine’s output. “High Tide Low Tide” is pure homage to the Ramones – with plenty of bah-bah-bah-bahs to accompany the frantic strumming and the slightly goofy lyrics. “One Lost Year” and “Crazy Lady” likewise have more than a sniff of everyone’s favourite New Yorkers about them. It’s not all high-speed strum-alongs and “Single Spies” is considerably more mellow, if a bit twee. This laidback change of gear is temporary though and things soon liven up by adding a dash of My Bloody Valentine to the mix. “Earth is Speeding” and “Number One Crush” particularly bring an off-kilter dissonance to the proceedings without slowing the tempo. It is the exquisite break-up song, “False Heaven”, however, where the Vaselines really hit the spot - with McKee’s bitter-sweet lead vocals and Kelly’s harmonies over a prime slice of indie pop.
Almost thirty years’ on, it’s safe to say that Kurt Cobain would still be a fan of the Vaselines’ melodic but speedy guitar pop.
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